Coastal Flooding In The Uk Case Study
Explain how coastal flooding presents environmental, social, economic risks for the UK (10 marks)
Coastal flooding occurs when normally dry, low-lying land is flooded by sea water. Coastal flooding is a serious threat to the UK. Many British cities are situated on or near the coast, on low-lying land, together with 40% of the UK’s manufacturing industry and sea level rise means that the UK are more at risk. Greater London and the Holderness coast are areas that are vulnerable to coastal flooding and expose environmental, social and political risks.
Firstly, with an increasing population many people live on coast today making them vulnerable and increasing the risk. Many settlements are on the coast and if flooding occurs many people's homes and property are at risk, this social risk could potentially lead to other social risks such as loss of jobs. Flooding in an area may also mean that the area itself as many people would not want to live there and this could lead to deprivation and anti-social behaviour. …show more content…
Secondly, as well as social risks, the economy is negatively affected by coastal flooding mainly due to the cost of coastal management of the area.
Greater London is an example that is protected by the Thames Barrier which is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world. However the protection it provides London costs billion and the barrier is raised even higher in the last few years. Furthermore, the barrier protects canary wharf, one of the world's major financial hubs. The area is at risk to flooding as banks and industries are threatened by the Thames storm surges from the sea. If this financial industry floods, many businesses in London may close plus, unemployment will occur which is social risk as well as
economic.
Lastly, coastal flooding can destroy coastal habitats such as wetlands and salt marshes erode dune systems. These are example of environmental risks and can cause a loss of bio diverse wildlife and possibly extinction. Furthermore, an increase in sea level rise and coastal flood will also mean that agricultural industry is as threat. Flood water in farms causes salivation of agriculturally productive soils thus resulting in a loss of productivity for long periods of time. An example of this is the Thames gateway areas. Although much of the land is regarded as low grade farmland and would not be a loss to the farming industry, the salt marshes around the estuary are of considerable environmental value as it protects the area.
Overall, coastal flooding threatens many areas in different way for example it could affect the economy such as London due to the maintenance of the barriers or even due to the valuable surroundings around the Thames. In other places, coastal flooding could affect an area in the UK socially as there may be many jobs settlements and property in the area and the loss of these are a social cost. The environmental risks that the Holderness coast or the Thames gateway faces include the loss of habitats or natural coastal defence. The UK has a very high population and holds the world's top business however; coastal flooding puts these factors at risk.
Coastal flooding occurs when normally dry, low-lying land is flooded by sea water. Coastal flooding is a serious threat to the UK. Many British cities are situated on or near the coast, on low-lying land, together with 40% of the UK’s manufacturing industry and sea level rise means that the UK are more at risk. Greater London and the Holderness coast are areas that are vulnerable to coastal flooding and expose environmental, social and political risks.
Firstly, with an increasing population many people live on coast today making them vulnerable and increasing the risk. Many settlements are on the coast and if flooding occurs many people's homes and property are at risk, this social risk could potentially lead to other social risks such as loss of jobs. Flooding in an area may also mean that the area itself as many people would not want to live there and this could lead to deprivation and anti-social behaviour. …show more content…
Secondly, as well as social risks, the economy is negatively affected by coastal flooding mainly due to the cost of coastal management of the area.
Greater London is an example that is protected by the Thames Barrier which is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world. However the protection it provides London costs billion and the barrier is raised even higher in the last few years. Furthermore, the barrier protects canary wharf, one of the world's major financial hubs. The area is at risk to flooding as banks and industries are threatened by the Thames storm surges from the sea. If this financial industry floods, many businesses in London may close plus, unemployment will occur which is social risk as well as
economic.
Lastly, coastal flooding can destroy coastal habitats such as wetlands and salt marshes erode dune systems. These are example of environmental risks and can cause a loss of bio diverse wildlife and possibly extinction. Furthermore, an increase in sea level rise and coastal flood will also mean that agricultural industry is as threat. Flood water in farms causes salivation of agriculturally productive soils thus resulting in a loss of productivity for long periods of time. An example of this is the Thames gateway areas. Although much of the land is regarded as low grade farmland and would not be a loss to the farming industry, the salt marshes around the estuary are of considerable environmental value as it protects the area.
Overall, coastal flooding threatens many areas in different way for example it could affect the economy such as London due to the maintenance of the barriers or even due to the valuable surroundings around the Thames. In other places, coastal flooding could affect an area in the UK socially as there may be many jobs settlements and property in the area and the loss of these are a social cost. The environmental risks that the Holderness coast or the Thames gateway faces include the loss of habitats or natural coastal defence. The UK has a very high population and holds the world's top business however; coastal flooding puts these factors at risk.